Slovenia has elected its first-ever female head of state, a lawyer with ties to the previous first lady of the United States.
Natasa Pirc Musar is a journalist and attorney who ran as an independent candidate with the support of the center-left government of Slovenia.
Former foreign minister Anze Logar, a veteran of conservative politics, was beaten by her.
According to the election commission, Ms. Pirc Musar received about 54% of the vote, surpassing Mr. Logar’s 46%.
The commission reported a 49.9% voter turnout rate among a population of approximately two million.
“Slovenia has elected a president who believes in the European Union and in the democratic values upon which the EU was established,” stated Ms. Pirc Musar after her victory.
She stated that “the globe is experiencing challenging times due to climate change.”
She stated, “Young people are now placing the burden of caring for our world on our political leaders so that the next generation, our children, can live in a healthy and clean environment.
The president’s function is primarily ceremonial, but Ms. Pirc Musar will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces and will appoint several top officials, including the central bank governor.
During her husband’s administration, the Slovenian-born Ms. Pirc Musar was retained as a lawyer to represent the interests of Mrs. Trump.
In 2016, Ms. Pirc Musar and her client launched a lawsuit in Slovenia against Suzy magazine for implying that Mrs. Trump worked as a high-end escort while pursuing her international modeling career. There was an out-of-court settlement.
